Should women hockey players apologize for smoking and drinking on ice?Fri, February 26, 2010

THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER -- Hockey Canada apologized Thursday for a boozy impromptu party the Olympic women's hockey team threw for itself on the Canada Hockey Place ice after winning the gold medal.

Canadian players, still wearing their uniforms and with gold medals draped around their necks, celebrated their victory by drinking champagne and beer at centre ice following a 2-0 win over the United States.

The International Olympic Committee said it will investigate the celebration, which included drinking by one of Canada's underage players.

In a statement released late Thursday, Hockey Canada apologized.

Do you think it was necessary for Hockey Canada to apologize for the players? Have your say in our forum.

The only people who should be apologizing are the reports and news outlets that make this a story.

Clearly a ploy by jealous U.S. reporters to "rat out" the Canadians after they stomped the rest of women's hockey. They worked hard - let them celebrate in peace.
BERGIE, 2010-02-26 18:20:42

Admittedly not a class act. Those celebrations should be confined to the dressing room and, discretion being the better part of valour, the underager should have been told by the team's captain to enjoy her booze but only in the dressing room. Having said that, however, the ladies did just capture the Holy Grail of women's hockey, Olympic gold. It was time to celebrate and, if the stands were empty, no harm in enjoying a little nip and a puff on a (hopefully) good cigar out in the open. Anyway, I saw a few of the ladies holding cans of Coors Light. Heck, that's not even beer.
Butch F., 2010-02-26 18:11:23

No every hockey players has a drink and a smoke after a win. After all we are Canadian and that's what we do
craig, 2010-02-26 18:07:35

We want the win, we got the win. The ladies celebrated. Wouldn't we all? The IOC should get over themselves and accept that this is about spirit and celebration. Athletes are amazing people, but they are people. Let them be.
EP, 2010-02-26 18:04:56

We won and we can celebrate ANY way we want. The IOC can take a flying fazoo. These old farts should ask their grown daughters what they would do.!!!!! Might be in fo a surprise.
Bob Stuart, 2010-02-26 17:59:25

to all those who are critical of the celebration i say

SHUT UP

let em enjoy themselves
wra, 2010-02-26 17:59:25

I really feel that our women deserve to celebrate their gold any way they choose, it is a feat they have sacrificed to win for their country. So leave them alone, the underaged player should be excused, she has earned the right. Enough sour grapes from people trying to tarnish Team Canadas moment. I am very disappointed with the people that brought this party to the attention of the whole world. Try instead to be proud of our representatives and leave the muck out of it.
ellen jessome, 2010-02-26 17:57:08

A 1 week practise before the tournament ?

You aint into the hockey. They played together for 40 games against men to practice.